Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 13: An order issued by the government, setting aside room No. 9 in the first floor of Vidhana Soudha here for holding press conferences by the chief minister, ministers, and senior officials has taken the shape of a dispute.

Currently press room is located in the third floor of the building, and press conferences are held in the conference halls, committee rooms, or ministers rooms. The media in general believes that this new rule has been brought about to restrict entry of the media to the third floor and rooms of ministers there. At the same time, several rules have been framed for allowing entry of media persons inside the Vidhana Soudha as per which the government will initiate issuance of new passes. It is said that this system will create hurdles for the press persons.

At the same time, female employees working in Vidhana Soudha have expressed reservations about allotment of room No. 9 to media persons. As the washroom for women is located by the side of this room, they say it becomes uncomfortable for them. It is learnt that they have decided to complain about this issue to the department heads.

Minister for parliamentary affairs, Krishna Byre Gowda, said that he would discuss the matter with the chief minister and solve it. Social welfare minister, Priyank Kharge, said that he does not have any information about regulating the media, and felt that restrictions cannot stop the media from getting information they want.

Chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, said that he is aware of the unhappiness among the media persons about change of room. Therefore he said he has asked the officials to provide the same room the media was using since long for their use.